From Lagayan to St. Francis: Abra bet wants to change town’s name

Whistleblower and challenger for the mayoral post, Bernardine Joson. Photo by Rem Zamora for ABS-CBNnews.com

Text by Ira Pedrasa and photos by Rem Zamora for ABS-CBNnews.com

BANGUED – Abra province is always on the list of election hotspots, but a candidate in the town of Lagayan wants to change this.

Bernardine Joson, a whistleblower, will go head to head against her former boss in the municipal government, Jendricks Luna, who is part of a famous political clan here, as mayor of Lagayan.

Lagayan actually comes from the word “laga” or “to weave.” Long time ago, woven baskets were used as containers for vegetables or used catch fish. A symbol of the latter is prominently displayed in the seal of Lagayan. Fishing, aside from farming, is one of the sources of livelihood in Lagayan.

To most Filipinos, however, “lagayan” means bribery, or according to Philippine laws, the act of giving something to alter the behavior of the person receiving it.

Joson said the town’s name is “masagwa (in bad taste),” and it is her dream to change the name of the town to St. Francis of Assisi, which is also the name chosen by the Catholic Church’s new Pope.

The municipal town hall of Lagayan. Photo by Rem Zamora

Running for mayor

In 2011, Joson – then the municipal planning and development officer of Lagayan – filed plunder charges against Jendricks’ mother, former Abra Rep. Cecilia Seares Luna, and others for plunder, graft and corruption, technical malversation, unethical conduct, violation of the government procurement law and forfeiture.

Joson said the alleged plunder or large-scale graft took place from 2003 to 2010 and amounted to at least P133.9 million. Cecilia was mayor from 2003-2006. She was succeeded by her son Jendricks, who served from 2007 to 2010.

On the day of ABS-CBNnews.com’s interview, Joson was wearing a yellow, long-sleeved top, jeans and yellow flip-flops. Yellow is the election campaign color of President Benigno Aquino III, and Joson believes he can help get Lagayan out of its current rut.

The interview took place at her home, just a stone’s throw away from the welcome sign of “Lagayan.” A tarpaulin covered the exterior of Joson’s house to help hide it from strangers.

Joson said she knows that public money went to the pockets of the Lunas.

A waiting shed welcoming visitors to Lagayan. Photo by Rem Zamora

She said she was able to enter government service – after doing the rounds in the private sector – because her parents are friends of the Lunas. She said a cousin was supposed to run against Cecilia, but backed out as a compromise.

Joson believes, however, that Cecilia did not like her because she was “maingay” (noisy). She said she was not even given a regular employment contract, despite her many years of service in the municipal hall. It was only when Jendricks came in that she was regularized as part of governmental processes.

the photographer had some lackings…..the waiting shed he had shoot…that was the old stage beside the municipal hall. the school building at lagayan central was the old one…where is the new one,mr. photographer? wg mo sbhng d mo nakita ung bagong gusali sa lagayan central school. i smell biased on your photo shoot REM Zamora. check it out!

The Lunas will not kill her neither if she wins. It’s a political suicide which in doing so, it’s the end of their political life that will drain everything they have worked hard for. No one could evade legal justice forever and even if it does, the wrath of divine justice will always follow.
The best thing they can do is to protect her and her family at all costs because maybe some evil politicians are planning to use her as a “sacrificial lamb” just to discredit or destroy their political image. They need to keep her alive if they want to stay longer in politics where the electorate or Abrenians all over the world will be impressed with their change of hearts. If I were Joson, I rather more scared with my other so-called pretending questionable supporters than my political opponents. Don’t take my words though….but just hope for the best…SOMEONE is always watching us…..

why do you have to change the name of lagayan, mrs. joson? your reason is not that acceptable. Mr. Photographer, if you are truly a professional in your profession please don’t be biased . I think its not Mrs. Joson nor the Lunas will make big difference in lagayan. because they are both hiding their true intention why they are running the post. Its up to the Lagayaneos to decide who will win( ay mali it will be the one who will give bigger fund for vote buying will win). we all know that luna is capable in doing that, but i think Mrs. joson can do that also because of the big fish supporting her (or DUROG). Im just praying that one day all the residents in lagayan will decide in their own will without fear and live peacefully and a happy never ending town. ( THE TIME WILL COME, NOT NOW, BUT SURELY WILL COME JUST WAIT)

Here comes again this name changing.
Whatever. the f_*_ k. g name given to a. F_-*;+k_;-g place. it will be the same hell if we keep on electing f_+;)*k _-; g people. Id rather have that name Lagayan. anyday .